Chicago round trip approx 5,000 miles in 21 days- Input/Advice needed

Hi all,

Always appreciate the forum and the reads available on this forum.

We are an English couple about to undertake our 3rd US ROADTRIP.

About us:
I'm Dave - 40 and my girlfriends 31 (Jo)
Both seasoned roadtripper's and love the good ol US of A!!!
We tend to just enjoy being on the open road's, exploring the unknown, not necessarily having a set agenda and prefer to see a little of lots rather than a lot of very little, hope that makes sense.

Basically for us it's all about getting excited about those big/small names that become known to us from movies or articles read..... we love the diverse food, the hit n miss motels en route, the outlet malls, the amazing scenery and the friendly people.

I will be the sole driver and do not have a problem covering anything up to 600 miles/day as we do tend to be on the road for at least 10 -12 hours most days.

Weeks 2 & 3 (11 days) - Depart Vegas and head south east via Tucson, El Paso, north to Santa Fe, Amarilo(have to try the 72 oz steak), south to San Antonio, then north to Dallas, Wichita, across to Kansas City, St Louis, Springfield, Indianapolis then returning to Chicago!!!

I know this sounds like a lot to chew off in a 21 day roadtrip, possibly covering inexcess of 5,000 miles but we believe we can do it, as we are not the sort to spend days on end trekking through national parks or climbing gorges etc..... wish we could but for us it's all about seeing a little of everything via the road!!!

Would appreciate any input/advice from any of you seasoned roadtrippers covering the routes we are taking or could possibly take that may be of benefit to us.

Like I said we don't like pre planning the whole trips we take but it's nice to write down some points of interests on the way etc............

lookin fine

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

It looks like you've got a plan and you know what you are doing. You are right that you're trying to chew off alot, but I've seen alot worse. Since you plan to do most of your siteseeing out of the car window, I think your plan seems quite reasonable.

As far as your budget goes, you didn't say when you were going on this trip, but gas is still over $3 per gallon in most places here. IA this point, I'd be using $3.50 for any budget purposes. I'd rather error a little on the high side.

And Dennys... I'd just stay away from them! While dining at chain restaurants might be a part of american culture, you can get so much better food at better prices by finding the local places...

Twisty tour

Howdy,

You've certainly layed out a route that follows anything but a straight line, but it should be interesting.

I hate to slow you down, but you really should see an amazing collection of everything American, similar to the York Castle Museum back in your home country but even more extensive. I highly, highly recommend several hours at the Harold Warp Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska, just east of Grand Island. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but you'll be amazed at what all is inside.

In either Colorado Springs or Denver Areas you'll have to drive to the top of Pike's Peak, and/or Mount Evans, respectively, (both over 14,000 feet) as crucial components to an American roadtrip. While in Denver, have a Mexican dinner at Casa Bonita on West Colfax, just east of Wadsworth. There is no place quite like it that I've heard of.

After leaving Oklahoma City, I suggest a swing NE to Tulsa. The town as one of the largest collection of Art Deco buildings still standing in the US. The oil boom hit there just as the style was becoming popular. After Tulsa make your way NW to Pawhuska and drive north to the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. They have a large herd of bison on about 35,000 acres of native prairie. You can drive through the preserve, observe the bison in their native habitat, and continue on northwest to reconnect to the Interstate south of Witchita.

The see-from-the-car cultural attraction in Kansas City is the Country Club Plaza (oldest and still one of the best shopping centers in the US) and the homes along Ward Parkway, on the Missouri side, and Mission Hills, on the Kansas side (63rd and State Line). "The Plaza" is along 47th street between Madison and Main (see the Nichols Fountain at Main and 47th) on the Missouri side. All of this is marked on a Kansas City Map. You can leave Kansas City by driving north on Main through the center of the city and head east on I-70.

It looks like you've got a plan and you know what you are doing. You are right that you're trying to chew off alot, but I've seen alot worse. Since you plan to do most of your siteseeing out of the car window, I think your plan seems quite reasonable.

As far as your budget goes, you didn't say when you were going on this trip, but gas is still over $3 per gallon in most places here. IA this point, I'd be using $3.50 for any budget purposes. I'd rather error a little on the high side.

And Dennys... I'd just stay away from them! While dining at chain restaurants might be a part of american culture, you can get so much better food at better prices by finding the local places...

Cheers...

We arriving from London on Aug 27th for 21 days.....

Was a bit tongue in cheek with respect to Denny's.. don't tend go plastic food 24/7... just love the amounts of food and variations of cuisine your guys have!

Interested in knowing the best route for drive by sightseeing from Denver thru the Rockies then travelling South West thru Utah eventually hitting North Rim and into Vegas.... any ideas???? taking into account we only have 7 days to get from Chicago to Vegas!